The D500 is Nikon’s long awaited update to the D300. With blazing shooting speed and Nikon’s first dive into 4K video, see how this camera performs in the water in our full review with images and video.

Underwater Camera and Housing TTL Reference Guide

TTL is an automatic strobe exposure system and a great tool for underwater photographers. TTL systems allow you to focus on strobe placement while it figures out the best strobe exposure. It’s not fail proof, but modern systems have become surprisingly accurate and help make underwater photography even more fun. We’ve assembled this reference guide to help you identify the various TTL options for your brand of housing and camera. This guide is not an attempt to demystify the subtle complexities of TTL systems, but something we like to use when discussing TTL options with our customers. Select your housing brand from the index below and give us a call. We look forward to help you select the best option for your favorite types of underwater subjects. AQUATICA TTL OPTIONSInternal Ikelite TTL Circuitry for Canon (Electronic) Aquatica and Ikelite have teamed up to offer Ikelite's Internal TTL system on select Aquatica housings such as the Canon 5DS R and 7D MkII housings. This TTL system is only compatible with Ikelite strobes. A command dial on the exterior of the housing allows for quick access to either TTL Exposure compensation or manual strobe output.BUY NOWExternal Ikelite TTL Converter for Nikon(Electronic) The Ikelite External TTL Converter will allow Ikelite DS strobes to be connected to nearly any housing for Nikon with a Nikonos 5 pin or Ikelite 5 pin electrical bulkhead strobe connector and 5 pin hot shoe. The TTL Converter is equipped with a simple rotating switch that allows toggling between TTL and manual exposure. BUY NOWPop-Up Flash(Fiber Optic) Many cameras include a built in, pop-up flash. This flash can be used to optically trigger strobes. Sea & Sea and Inon are both TTL compatible when shooting with the camera's internal flash. Using a camera's pop-up flash is the most affordable TTL option, but also the slowest method of shooting TTL. The primary limitations to using a camera's pop-up flash are the long recycle times of the camera’s internal flash and consumption of the camera's battery. Aquatica Compatibility GridUW TechnicsConverter(Electronic & Fiber Optic)Internal IkeliteCircuitry(Electronic)External IkeliteConverter(Electronic)Pop-UpFlash(Fiber Optic)Nikon D5YES---Nikon D810--YESYESNikon D500YES---Nikon D7200--YESYESCanon 5D IV-YES--Canon 7D II-YES-YESCanon 70D---YESSony a7 II,a7R II, a7S II----IKELITE TTL OPTIONSIkelite Housing Built In TTL Converter(Electronic) An integrated TTL circuit is fine-tuned to the flash exposure protocol for the most accurate exposure possible with Ikelite Ds strobes. The circuit is powered by the strobe for zero maintenance and no batteries to change. Exposure compensation in TTL mode is supported using the camera's built-in control. Pop-Up Flash(Fiber Optic) Many cameras include a built in, pop-up flash. This flash can be used to optically trigger strobes. Sea & Sea and Inon are both TTL compatible when shooting with the camera's internal flash. Using a camera's pop-up flash is the most affordable TTL option, but also the slowest method of shooting TTL. The primary limitations to using a camera's pop-up flash are the long recycle times of the camera’s internal flash and consumption of the camera's battery. Ikelite Compatibility GridIkelite Built-InConverter(Electronic)Pop-UpFlash(Fiber Optic)Nikon D810YES-Nikon D7200YES-Canon 5D IVYES-Canon 7D IIYES-Canon 70DYES-Sony a7 II,a7R II, a7S IIYES-Sony a6500YESYESNAUTICAM TTL OPTIONSUW Technics TTL Converter for Nikon(Electronic & Fiber Optic) The UW Technics TTL converter supports both optical and electrical strobe triggering and is compatible with popular strobes from Inon and Sea & Sea. Optical triggering eliminates o-ring maintenance and potential water intrusion over electrical sync cables. Full automatic TTL and manual are supported. The UW Technics converter also supports Rear Curtain Sync. BUY NOWNauticam TTL Converter for Nikon(Electronic & Fiber Optic) The Nauticam TTL Converter supports both optical and electrical strobe triggering and is compatible with popular strobes from Inon and Sea & Sea. With these converters, optical strobe triggering is the way to go. Optical triggering eliminates o-ring maintenance and potential water intrusion over electrical sync cables. Full automatic TTL and manual are supported. The Nauticam TTL Converter also supports Rear Curtain Sync. BUY NOWNauticam Optical TTL Converter for Canon(Fiber Optic) This hotshoe mounted optical flash trigger provides automatic TTL Flash when used with Inon S-TTL and Sea & Sea DS-TTL Strobes connected by fiber optic cables. The TTL trigger also offers manual triggering. The Nauticam TTL Converter also supports Rear Curtain Sync. BUY NOWExternal Ikelite TTL Converter for Nikon(Electronic) The Ikelite External TTL Converter will allow Ikelite DS strobes to be connected to nearly any housing for Nikon with a Nikonos 5 pin or Ikelite 5 pin electrical bulkhead strobe connector and 5 pin hot shoe. The TTL Converter is equipped with a simple rotating switch that allows toggling between TTL and manual exposure. BUY NOWPop-Up Flash(Fiber Optic) Many cameras include a built in, pop-up flash. This flash can be used to optically trigger strobes. Sea & Sea and Inon are both TTL compatible when shooting with the camera's internal flash. Using a camera's pop-up flash is the most affordable TTL option, but also the slowest method of shooting TTL. The primary limitations to using a camera's pop-up flash are the long recycle times of the camera’s internal flash and consumption of the camera's battery. Nauticam Compatibility GridUW Technics(Electronic &Fiber Optic)NauticamConverter(Electronic &Fiber Optic)NauticamFlash Trigger(Fiber Optic)External Ikelite Converter(Electronic)Pop-UpFlash(Fiber Optic)Nikon D5-YES---Nikon D810YES--YESYESNikon D500-YES---Nikon D7200YES--YESYESCanon 1DX II--YES--Canon 5D IV--YES--Canon 7D II--YES-YESCanon 70D--YES-YESSony a7 II,a7R II, a7S II-----Sony a6500----YESSEA & SEA TTL OPTIONSSea & Sea Optical YS Converter for Nikon & Canon(Fiber Optic) The Sea & Sea optical YS converter uses LEDs to trigger external TTL strobes electronically. The converter mounts inside select Sea & Sea housings. TTL and manual modes can be switched by pushing the mode switch on the housing. BUY NOWNauticam Optical TTL Converter for Canon(Fiber Optic) This hotshoe mounted optical flash trigger provides automatic TTL Flash when used with Inon S-TTL and Sea & Sea DS-TTL Strobes connected by fiber optic cables. The TTL trigger also offers manual triggering. The Nauticam TTL Converter also supports Rear Curtain Sync. BUY NOWPop-Up Flash(Fiber Optic) Many cameras include a built in, pop-up flash. This flash can be used to optically trigger strobes. Sea & Sea and Inon are both TTL compatible when shooting with the camera's internal flash. Using a camera's pop-up flash is the most affordable TTL option, but also the slowest method of shooting TTL. The primary limitations to using a camera's pop-up flash are the long recycle times of the camera’s internal flash and consumption of the camera's battery. Sea & Sea Compatibility GridSea & Sea OpticalYS Converter(Fiber Optic)External IkeliteConverter(Electronic)Pop-UpFlash(Fiber Optic)Nikon D810YESYESYESNikon D500YES--Nikon D7200YESYESYESCanon 5D IVYES-YESCanon 7D IIYES-YESCanon 70DYES-YESSony a7 II,a7R II, a7S IIYES--SUBAL TTL OPTIONSSubal V1 TTL System for Nikon(Electronic & Fiber Optic) About 60% of all Subal older models housings for Nikon can be upgraded with this TTL system. It fits in place of the original Subal electronics for strobes and installation is very simple. Subal TTL V1 system uses two CD2032 batteries. Subal TTL V1 system can be equipped with electrical or optical cables. It is suitable for set of strobes such as the Sea & Sea YS-D1, Sea & Sea YS-01, Inon Z240, Inon D2000 and Inon S-2000. BUY NOWSubal TTL Converter for Nikon & Canon(Electronic & Fiber Optic) The Subal TTL Converter mounts on top the camera and is able to work with both Nikon and Canon cameras. Strobes can be connected via fiber optic cable as well as with standard 5 or 6 pin connector cables. It is suitable for Sea & Sea, Inon, and Ikelite DS strobes. The Subal TTL adaptor can be used in many underwater housings currently on the market. BUY NOWNauticam Optical TTL Converter for Canon(Fiber Optic) This hotshoe mounted optical flash trigger provides automatic TTL Flash when used with Inon S-TTL and Sea & Sea DS-TTL Strobes connected by fiber optic cables. The TTL trigger also offers manual triggering. The Nauticam TTL Converter also supports Rear Curtain Sync. BUY NOWPop-Up Flash(Fiber Optic) Many cameras include a built in, pop-up flash. This flash can be used to optically trigger strobes. Sea & Sea and Inon are both TTL compatible when shooting with the camera's internal flash. Using a camera's pop-up flash is the most affordable TTL option, but also the slowest method of shooting TTL. The primary limitations to using a camera's pop-up flash are the long recycle times of the camera’s internal flash and consumption of the camera's battery. Subal Compatibility GridSubal V1System(Electronic &Fiber Optic)Subal Converter(Electronic &Fiber Optic)External Ikelite(Electronic)Pop-UpFlash(Fiber Optic)Nikon D5YESYES--Nikon D810YESYESYESYESNikon D500YESYES--Nikon D7200YESYESYESYESCanon 1DX II-YES--Canon 5D IV-YES--Canon 7D II-YES-YESSony a7 II,a7R II, a7S II----Related PostsBackscatter Xterminator—Eliminate Backscatter In A Single Click! Backscatter Xterminator (BSXT), developed by GoAskErin, is a game-changing Photoshop plugin that eliminates backscatter from underwater photos with a single miraculous click. Read More GoPro HERO13 Camera & Underwater Housing Review The new GoPro HERO13 Black action camera is packed full of new features for both the underwater and topside video shooters. The GoPro HERO13 now has access to the new HERO Black Lens series, magnetic ... Read More Canon EOS R5 II Mirrorless Camera & Underwater Housing First Look We are happy to announce our first dive with the much anticipated Canon EOS R5 II, the successor to the hugely popular Canon EOS R5 that was released back in the summer of 2020. We spent this dive sho... Read More OM System TG-7 & Olympus TG-6 Review: The Easiest Underwater Compact Camera We love the OM System TG-7 & Olympus TG-6 cameras for their extremely simple operation, outstanding macro ability, and the great image quality produced in both photo and video. It’s our pick for t... Read More Ikelite DS230 & DS232 Underwater Strobe Review The Ikelite DS230 and Ikelite DS232 strobes stand as Ikelite’s latest flagship offerings. Both models boast identical flash features and characteristics, with the only discernible difference being a b... Read More Backscatter Hybrid Flash Underwater Strobe & Video Light Review With the introduction of the Backscatter Hybrid Flash HF-1, underwater photographers can now capture stunning stills and video with a single versatile tool. The Hybrid is the most powerful strobe and ... Read More ARTICLE KEYWORDS: